The Friendship Village
A timely, award-winning film about our ability to transcend war, The Friendship Village tells the story of Vietnam veteran George Mizo, a war hero turned peace activist after losing his entire platoon in an opening salvo of the 1968 Tet Offensive. George’s jourey to heal the wounds of war leads him back to Vietnam where he befriends the general responsible for killing his entire platoon. Through their friendship, the seeds of the Vietnam Friendship Village are sewn: a reconcilation project neart Hanoi that treats children with Agent Orange-related illnesses.
"**** Mason's use of powerful stock footage of the war is nicely combined with interviews with Friendship Village's founder, George Mizo, whose hawk-to-dove transformation is truly inspiring."
- Ingrid Randoja, The Eye, Toronto
"Pay attention to Michelle Mason’s moving anti-war documentary…”
- Wendy Banks, Now, Toronto
“An extraordinarily moving and powerful film. It is by turns heartrending and inspring…I hope this film will be seen by large numbers of young people, to remind them of what the U.N. Charter calls ‘the scourge of war.”
- Howard Zinn, Author, A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present, Terrorism and War
“The energy and clarity of Michelle Mason’s vision in The Friendship Village pours off the screen. This film has the potential to be a transformational experience for anyone remotely willing to open their heart and mind to this tragic, yet inspiring story.”
- Mark Achbar, The Corporation
“Veterans from three different wars were transfixed and inspired by The Friendship Village story of tragic wounds and transformative healing. If every American could see and learn from this film, perhaps we could stop creating more veterans and victims of war."
Major Kenneth E. Mayers U.S. Marine Corps, Veterans for Peace, Santa Fe Chapter
